Category: That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary

Iranian Soccer team gets in a pre game photo as they prepare to take on North Korea in a qualifying soccer match at Azadi Stadium in Tehran on Jun 10, 2025. Iran’s team will not be participating in the 2026 World Cup. (AP file photo)

Iran will not participate in the World Cup -Iran’s sad record with Sports

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Iran’s national soccer team is not participating in the 2026 World Cup in North America, with the sports minister citing safety concerns amid geopolitical tensions with the U.S. and Israel . Iran was scheduled to play group-stage matches in the United States, including games in Los Angeles.

They didn’t have any games scheduled here in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, the Iranian women’s soccer team left Australia with seven women left behind who were granted asylum after the Iranian government threatened to oust them for not singing the Iranian National Anthem.

This is nothing new; it is not only because of the current war, but for decades. Below are just a handful of Iranian athletes who were killed by their government, one of the most brutal governments in the world since 1979. Navid Afkari, a wrestler, was executed in September 2020.

Feruzan Alodi and Habib Khabiri, both members of the National Volleyball team, and Mohammed Ghremi Far, a soccer player, were shot and killed during an anti-government protest. Ali Mozaffari, a volleyball player, died during a protest. Mojtaba Tarshiz, a soccer player, died in his wife’s arms while trying to shield her from government security forces during a protest.

For the sake of expediency, I did not list all the dates these young athletes lost their lives. Sadly enough, this is the way the Iranian government has ruled the country for the last 47 years, a brutal theocracy. This is not the way it should be:,for the Iranians not to participate in the 2026 World Cup (or any other country), but such is Iran today, and the world we live in today.

I believe it is best for them not to come to the US and participate in this World Cup this summer, as it would be a good thing to potentially prevent more unnecessary violence. We are truly blessed to live here in the United SIran will not participate in the World Cup -Iran’s sad record with Sports Iran’s national soccer team is not participating in the 2026 World Cup in North America, with the sports minister citing safety concerns amid geopolitical tensions with the U.S. and Israel .

Iran was scheduled to play group-stage matches in the United States, including games in Los Angeles. They didn’t have any games scheduled here in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, the Iranian women’s soccer team left Australia with seven women left behind who were granted asylum after the Iranian government threatened to oust them for not singing the Iranian National Anthem.

This is nothing new; it is not only because of the current war, but for decades. Below are just a handful of Iranian athletes who were killed by their government, one of the most brutal governments in the world since 1979. Navid Afkari, a wrestler, was executed in September 2020.

Feruzan Alodi and Habib Khabiri, both members of the National Volleyball team, and Mohammed Ghremi Far, a soccer player, were shot and killed during an anti-government protest. Ali Mozaffari, a volleyball player, died during a protest. Mojtaba Tarshiz, a soccer player, died in his wife’s arms while trying to shield her from government security forces during a protest.

For the sake of expediency, I did not list all the dates these young athletes lost their lives. Sadly enough, this is the way the Iranian government has ruled the country for the last 47 years, a brutal theocracy. This is not the way it should be:,for the Iranians not to participate in the 2026 World Cup (or any other country), but such is Iran today, and the world we live in today.

I believe it is best for them not to come to the US and participate in this World Cup this summer, as it would be a good thing to potentially prevent more unnecessary violence. We are truly blessed to live here in the United States. Just imagine for a second if you were an athlete and you knew that if you did not sing your national anthem after you won a soccer match or a medal in the Olympics, you could be vilified for life by your country.

The San Francisco Bay Area hosts one of the largest Iranian-born populations in the United States, with significant communities in the East Bay, South Bay, and Marin County. Today, many are highly engaged in political activism, and thousands have taken to the streets with Iranian and US flags supporting the recent killing of the leaders of Iran.

Recently, holding large rallies in San Francisco to celebrate potential regime change, along with a strong, enduring cultural presence. tates. Just imagine for a second if you were an athlete and you knew that if you did not sing your national anthem after you won a soccer match or a medal in the Olympics, you could be vilified for life by your country.

The San Francisco Bay Area hosts one of the largest Iranian-born populations in the United States, with significant communities in the East Bay, South Bay, and Marin County. Today, many are highly engaged in political activism, and thousands have taken to the streets with Iranian and US flags supporting the recent killing of the leaders of Iran. Recently, holding large rallies in San Francisco to celebrate potential regime change, along with a strong, enduring cultural presence.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

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